After increasing speculation about a possible merger, McIlroy revealed details on Thursday about a new PGA Tour subcommittee created to conduct direct talks with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) regarding a finalised deal. Along with the Irishman, headliners like Tiger Woods and Adam Scott will also be on a seven-person PGA Tour Policy Board transaction subcommittee that will sit across the table from the financial backers of rival series LIV Golf. The goal is to hammer out terms to unite both tours.

Woods, who has a different viewpoint regarding the subject and registers as the sixth player-director and the only one with a limitless term, was appointed in August as part of the “transaction subcommittee” on the PGA Tour Enterprises board set to handle day-to-day negotiations as PIF seeks to become a minority investor. The board needs to approve such a move first, and a framework agreement released last June has not been finalised, as talks have stretched well beyond the initial deadline of last December. "There's a window of opportunity here," McIlroy said. "I think that window closes ever so slightly every day that passes by, so I would say time is of the essence, absolutely."

Others subcommittee members include PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, and Fenway Sports Group boss John Henry, who led an investment group of US sports team owners that created a $1.5 billion for-profit entity PGA Tour Enterprises. Joe Ogilvie, a former tour player appointed as a director liaison in March, will also sit on the American side of the table for the commercial entity that agreed to a deal with Strategic Sports Group as a minority investor.

McIlroy said that while he is not returning to the decision panel, he was brought into the subcommittee to provide knowledge and perspective. "A different perspective, maybe more of an international perspective," he said. "My insight is more the position of where the global game is and where it could go." He has relationships on both sides of the table, including with PIF governor Yasir al-Rumayyan. "I feel like I've got good relationships on both sides there and hopefully I can bring something to the table, try to provide some insight and value and see if we can get this thing done," the current world-ranked number two insisted.

Woods, a 15-time major winner, was among those said to disagree with McIlroy about the future direction of golf. McIlroy said that there is no strain on their relationship even though they don't totally agree on a path forward. "Friends can have disagreements or not see eye to eye on things. I think that's fine," McIlroy said. "We had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes just about a lot of different things. No, there's no strain there. I think we might see the future of golf a little bit differently, but I don't think that should place any strain on a relationship or on a friendship."

McIlroy said the subcommittee has already had meetings to plan the way forward in negotiations. "I've already had calls with that group. I had a really good hour and a half Zoom with those guys on Sunday. We went through a 150 page doc about the future product model and everything," McIlroy said. "Yeah, I'm not on the board, but I'm in some way involved in that transaction committee. I don't have a vote so I don't have, I guess, a meaningful say in what happens in the future, but I feel like I can be helpful on that committee, and that was sort of a compromise for not getting a board seat." The main issue about him returning to the board in place of Webb Simpson, who was leaving but now is staying, was regarding improper process, not his viewpoints, he assured.

When noting PGA-LIV potential deal stumbling points on Wednesday, McIlroy cited American players possibly not wanting to have greater worldwide travel for tournaments compared to mostly US-based events now and what punishment might be required for those who jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV for rich deals while others declined them and stayed loyal to the established circuit.

He had announced on Wednesday that he would not be resuming his position on the PGA Tour’s Policy Board and mentioned that certain board members expressed reservations regarding his comeback following his resignation last year. Conversations regarding a possible PGA-LIV merger initially had a December deadline but have stretched out for months, with the frustrations stemming from slow or non existent progress being one of the factors contributing to the Irishman’s departure. "I'm impatient because I think we've got this window of opportunity to get it done, because both sides from a business perspective I wouldn't say need to get it done, but it makes sense," McIlroy stressed then.

The golf star drew parallels between the current situation and the Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to the armed conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland. "Catholics weren't happy, Protestants weren't happy, but it brought peace and then you just sort of learn to live with whatever has been negotiated," McIlroy stated. “That's my little way of trying to think about it and trying to make both sides see that there could be a compromise here. Yeah, it's probably not going to feel great for either side, but if it's a place where the game of golf starts to thrive again and we can all get back together, then I think that's ultimately a really good thing."